For the second year in a row, Ramadan will be mostly celebrated at home.
With large public gatherings off the cards and many avoiding lavish iftars, homes are the venue of choice for most people marking the holy month.
However, intimate meals and time spent with close family can only be a good thing. If you’re thinking of setting the scene to make it all the more special, here are some Ramadan decor tips from the experts.
All about the entrance
It’s the gateway to your home, the place that first sets the mood – so spruce your entrance up, advises UAE interior designer Neeshay Nouman, founder of The Niche Corner.
“Bring out your nicest console table and position it against a wall in your entryway or foyer. Add a decorative lamp or some formal-looking candle stands, and prop a lantern or two on the floor next to it. Get a metal tray and load it up with dates and place in the centre of the console," she advises.
Finish with a diffuser or an incense burner for an aromatic ambience.
"Remember, this is not your permanent setting so it’s OK to go a tad overboard with the decor during Ramadan and make it as festive as possible," Nouman adds.
Ramadan home tents and majlis-style seating
Ramadan tent permits have been cancelled in Dubai and Abu Dhabi – but you can recreate the magic at home.
There are many ways to craft a home teepee. For a makeshift one in the children's room, tie a cotton clothes line from a curtain rod to a heavy piece of furniture. Layer a thin bed sheet with a traditional Arabesque pattern over it, and tuck the sides under pillows placed on the floor. Make sure you fasten the cloth using pins. You can then line the inside of the tent with a warm rug, more cushions and lanterns.
For a more permanent effect, you can make a simple teepee at home or in the garden. Purchase four eight-foot-tall boards measuring 2.5 centimetres x 5cm, and three 0.6cm wooden dowels that are at least 127cm long. Drill 2cm holes at each end of the boards. Overlap two of the boards so the holes line up and insert the dowel through the hole. The remaining two dowels can be inserted at the holes in the base of the boards. Cover the frame using a bed sheet or blanket in traditional Arabic patterns and colours.
You can also find a plain white teepee online (Noon, Amazon and FirstCry all sell versions) and decorate it in Ramadan colours.
Nouman recommends stocking up on flat seating cushions for the floor of the tent, and topping it up with cushions. Prop a corner table in the centre and add some lanterns for a cosy majlis where you can break your fast with the family.
A number of brands have Ramadan-themed cushions especially for this reason, including Tribe, Pan Emirates and Danube Home.
Add new elements to the house
"Start with identifying the colour palette," advises Farah Merhi, a Lebanese-American designer who has teamed up with Home Centre to bring her Inspire Me! Home Decor collection to the region.
"Decorative cushions are a must to elevate the room, whether added to your sofa or armchairs. Add texture by styling a throw blanket on your sofa. Anchor the room and add warmth by choosing a rug with beautiful colours and a fun pattern," she says.
For those looking to add new furniture to the house, brands across the region have released Ramadan-themed collections. In March, Danube Home released a Ramadan e-catalogue with a number of pieces in Arabesque styles.
Creative cutlery
Dining together for iftar is one of the hallmarks of Ramadan, so there’s plenty of reason to spruce up that dining table.
"We're seeing a lot of formal dinnerware being used to curate the perfect setting," says Kelly Smith, head of visual merchandising at homeware brand aura Living. "These settings are, in some instances, for a lot smaller gatherings, so even more detail is being put into each one of them. A trend we're seeing is a lot of gold accents and traditional Arabic calligraphy, with accents of intricate Arabesque patterns."
One such example would be the brand's Famiglia range. In recognition of the fact many families still aren't able to meet owing to travel restrictions and guidelines regarding gatherings, aura Living has released a playful cartoon dinnerware set designed by Layan Al Hamed to add some whimsy, while reminding people of the importance of family.
Ramadan tablescaping
Katie Watson Grant, who launched her "tablescape-in-a-box" company Lavender & May in 2020, advises hosts to keep the centrepieces simple.
“At iftar, food should be the focus so go heavy on the place settings instead. Use taper candle sticks or a string of lantern lights or a vignette of Arabic lanterns on the centre of your table for a simple look," she says.
"Another traditional Ramadan decoration is the crescent Moon. Use this in new and modern ways by adding ribbon to small ones and tying round your napkins, or asking your florist to create small Moon-shaped arrangements.”
Lighting
Nouman believes that, when it comes to lighting, the more the merrier.
"Whether you decide to grab some battery-operated fairy lights, tall lanterns or wax candles, either way you will set the mood," she says.
"Bath & Body Works has candles and traditional candle holders and, for a simpler twist, try tea light candles. Fill up a wide bowl with water, pop in tea light candles and flower petals and you have a lovely, cost-effective decor idea."
The biog
Favourite hobby: taking his rescue dog, Sally, for long walks.
Favourite book: anything by Stephen King, although he said the films rarely match the quality of the books
Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption stands out as his favourite movie, a classic King novella
Favourite music: “I have a wide and varied music taste, so it would be unfair to pick a single song from blues to rock as a favourite"
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
ATP RANKINGS (NOVEMBER 4)
1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 9,585 pts ( 1)
2. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 8,945 (-1)
3. Roger Federer (SUI) 6,190
4. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 5,705
5. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 5,025
6. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 4,000 ( 1)
7. Alexander Zverev (GER) 2,945 (-1)
8. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 2,670 ( 1)
9. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 2,540 ( 1)
10. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 2,530 ( 3)
11. David Goffin (BEL) 2,335 ( 3)
12. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 2,290
13. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 2,180 (-2)
14. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 2,125 ( 1)
15. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 2,050 ( 13)
16. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 2,000
17. Karen Khachanov (RUS) 1,840 (-9)
18. Alex De Minaur (AUS) 1,775
19. John Isner (USA) 1,770 (-2)
20. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 1,747 ( 7)
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
HWJN
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SQUAD
Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Adel Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Mohammed Barghash, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Hassan Al Mahrami, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Yousef Jaber, Saeed Ahmed, Majed Sorour, Majed Hassan, Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Khalil Al Hammadi, Fabio De Lima, Khalfan Mubarak, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Ali Saleh, Caio Canedo, Muhammed Jumah, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
More coverage from the Future Forum
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*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
UFC%20FIGHT%20NIGHT%3A%20SAUDI%20ARABIA%20RESULTS
%3Cp%3E%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMain%20card%3Cbr%3EMiddleweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERobert%20Whittaker%20defeated%20Ikram%20Aliskerov%20via%20knockout%20(Round%201)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EHeavyweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAlexander%20Volkov%20def%20Sergei%20Pavlovich%20via%20unanimous%20decision%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMiddleweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EKelvin%20Gastelum%20def%20Daniel%20Rodriguez%20via%20unanimous%20decision%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMiddleweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EShara%20Magomedov%20def%20Antonio%20Trocoli%20via%20knockout%20(Round%203)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELight%20heavyweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EVolkan%20Oezdemir%20def%20Johnny%20Walker%20via%20knockout%20(Round%201)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPreliminary%20Card%0D%3Cbr%3ELightweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ENasrat%20Haqparast%20def%20Jared%20Gordon%20via%20split%20decision%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFeatherweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EFelipe%20Lima%20def%20Muhammad%20Naimov%20via%20submission%20(Round%203)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWelterweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERinat%20Fakhretdinov%20defeats%20Nicolas%20Dalby%20via%20split%20decision%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBantamweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMuin%20Gafurov%20def%20Kang%20Kyung-ho%20via%20unanimous%20decision%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELight%20heavyweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMagomed%20Gadzhiyasulov%20def%20Brendson%20Ribeiro%20via%20majority%20decision%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBantamweight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EChang%20Ho%20Lee%20def%20Xiao%20Long%20via%20split%20decision%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000